๐ค๐ Is it a steam engine? It runs on train tracks and has a steam boiler...What is it? ๐๐
34We found a mighty machine but don't know what it is! It has a train body, a steam engine and runs on tracks. What is it?
Today we went to Whittaker Station at Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass West Virginia. We rode the Shay Number 4 up to the station and found an awesome logging machine from 1939. It's from the Meadow Lumber company and it's a steam skidder!
From the info at Cass: "In 1939 Meadow River tried an industry first when it introduced tree length logging. Two skidders were rebuilt to handle the timber. Built in the company's shops this skidder received machinery taken from an older factory built Lidgerwood skidder. It was mounted on a 55 foot railroad car with a 1/2" steel bottom built by the company. a 96 foot long tower was mounted on the front end of the car.
The set-up site for this rail skidder would have a log storage yard for 1/2 million feet of logs and give the 1 7/8 inch skyline enough of a vertical climb to keep it at least 50 feet above the ground. The skidder was designed to operate in a complete circle, reaching out a distance of about 3,000 feet. A good timber cut could yield as much as 2 1/2 million board feet logged into one set-up, usually 8 to 10 months of operation. The skyline would sag considerably when loaded, and for best operation most of the load would be carried by the cable rather than dragging on the ground. This skidder operated until 1966, and is one of only two left in the United States. The Meadow River Lumber Company ceased operations in 1970.
Special Thanks to:
Credits
West Virginia & Regional History Center
Cass Scenic Railroad
Mountain Railroad
Crane information
https://wvhistoryonview.org/catalog/052579
https://wvhistoryonview.org/image/000474.jpg
Meadow Lumber Skidder info:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/130647200@N05/32158012823
https://wvhistoryonview.org/catalog/000192
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